@incollection{fdi:010021557,
  title = {{E}ffects of earthworms on plant production in the tropics},
  author = {{B}rown, {G}eorge and {P}ashanasi, {B}. and {V}illenave, {C}{\'e}cile and {P}atron, {J}.{C}. and {S}enapati, {B}.{K}. and {G}iri, {S}. and {B}arois, {I}. and {L}avelle, {P}. and {B}lanchart, {E}ric and {B}lakemore, {R}.{J}. and {S}pain, {A}.{V}. and {B}oyer, {J}ohnny},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}s part of the {E}uropean {U}nion-funded {M}acrofauna {P}roject, 16 experiments were conducted over a 7-year period on the effects of earthworm inoculation on plant production, both at the greenhouse and field level. {T}hese experiments were undertaken in six countries, involved 14 plant species, 6 great groups of soils, and at least 13 species of earthworms. {A}dditional data were taken from the literature, totalling more than 240 data points on the percentage change (+ or -) in above-ground production in the presence of more than 34 earthworm species. {T}he overall average increase in shoot and grain biomass due to earthworms was +56.3% + or - 9.3%({SE}) and 35.8 + or - 8.9%, significant at {P} less than 0.07 and {P} less than 0.08, respectively. {H}ighest increases were observed in soils with sandy textures, poor in organic matter, and with a moderatly acid p{H}. {E}arthworm biomass of around 30 g/m2 or more was shown to be necessary to promote agriculturaly important (greater than 40%) grain yield increases. {E}arthworm species which appeared most promising in enhancing plant growth at both the yield and pot experiment levels were #{P}ontoscolex corethrurus$ and #{D}rawida willsi$, both introduced with substantial results in {I}ndia. {S}everal other species showed significant advantages in particular situations, and are likely to be useful under wider conditions of crop and soil management. {P}lants most affected were tropical trees (in {P}eru), tea in {I}ndia, and #{P}anicum maximum$ grass, planted both in {A}ustralia and the {I}vory {C}ost. {B}enefits of earthworm introduction are, therefore, particularly important in perennial cropping systems. {L}arge and significant increases in grain biomass were observed in several situations, especially for sorghum, rice and maize. {L}eguminous crops appeared to be less enhanced by earthworm activities... ({D}'apr{\`e}s r{\'e}sum{\'e} d'auteur)},
  keywords = {{LOMBRIC} ; {ESPECE} {TROPICALE} ; {PRODUCTION} {VEGETALE} ; {BIOMASSE} ; {STRUCTURE} {DU} {SOL} ; {PROPRIETE} {PHYSIQUE} ; {ETUDE} {EXPERIMENTALE} ; {ETUDE} {COMPARATIVE} ; {PEROU} ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE} ; {INDE} ; {AUSTRALIE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {{E}arthworm management in tropical agroecosystems},
  numero = {},
  pages = {87--147},
  address = {{W}allingford},
  publisher = {{CABI}},
  series = {},
  year = {1999},
  ISBN = {0-85199-270-6},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010021557},
}